Defending Screens

Obviously in the grand scheme of things all coaches would like to game plan for every eventuality. If they flex we'll jump and switch the screens early. If they ball screen with a non shooter we'll hedge soft and go under. If they down screen with the shooter to pop or re-screen the shooter we'll fight through and deny hard on the scorer and play under the non shooter.

On and on and on it goes, in coaches' favorite game of who can have the marker last.

At most levels particularly below the elite level we don't have the prep time or player IQ to properly teach all these variables and program specific reactions. In an attempt to determine a way to teach defending screens that our kids can execute and remember in times of crisis we've come up with the B.A.T. theory.

We like a one rule for all (or at least as many as possible) attitude on defense. Keep it simple and work hard as a team.

B.A.T. 

We B.A.T. all screens and leave the individual reads up to players in the match ups at the moment. Please keep in mind we are a ball pressure team so that the ball handler should be under immense pressure to dribble or find space not be sitting back reading and making great passes.

B - Ball side. We get both players to the ball side of any screen plugging straight line passes and forcing lobs (rainbow passes) we can run under, knock down or close out too. We trust on any pass that off the ball defenders, whether a particular player or area is their responsibility, can sprint to deflect any pass with air under it.

A - Active. No one should be easy to screen or read. Both players should be low, moving, changing angles to that it is not clear what is going to happen or who will end up where. This way we are hard to screen, read, and attack. Active is hands, feet, hips, arms and mouths.

T - Talk. The most important issue here is communicate the current situation. We have no set switch or stay, we get both defenders ball side, moving, and seeing how the offense reacts then communicating new movements or matchups. Primary concern is always being able to stop the ball or to rotate to cover threats when we move to stop  the ball.